One day I looked around my house and saw lots of red.
I love red, and yes I picked out all of this furniture, and yes it was just a few years ago, but now, I want a clean, crisp, neutral, linen palette. A few months ago my bedroom went from this
to this (click here to see more)
the dining room went from this
to this (click here to see more)
and the breakfast room went from this
to this (click here to see more.)
It was finally time for the living room to join the neutral party.
I ended up using 30 yards of Italian linen fabric I bought online for about $16/yard, 4 vintage grain sacks, 4 king pillows, and about 36 yards of piping string. I’ll spend more time talking about how I made the slipcovers in an upcoming post, but here’s the big reveal.
I had covered a settee just like the ones in my living room here. I didn’t want the slipcover to gape open, since these settees would be used more than the one in my bedroom. I decided to use more straps on these, but after I finished the project, I just didn’t like all of the extra straps, so I removed four. See the difference?
Here’s the before
and here’s the after.
Another change I made was to add a throw to the back of the sofa. Here it is before.
and here’s the after.
It’s a very subtle difference, but I like it. It adds some texture to the sofa, it smooths over the lumps from the sofa tufting, and also protects the slipcover a little bit. Of course the good news is that these slipcovers can be washed easily.
The original plan was to make 10 ruffled pillows – 4 for the sofa, and 3 for each settee, but I had these vintage grain sacks I had purchased on eBay, sitting about, two were left over from my bedroom, click here. Well, I thought I would see if I liked the look before I spent hours and hours sewing 10 pillows. Of course you know the end of the story. I loved the look of the grain sacks so I’m keeping them where they are. If I decide at some point I want to go with the linen, I can always make them later; I have lots of fabric left.
I used one closure in the back center of the sofa.
Here you can see the back of the settee which did not need a closure.
The tutorial for the settee slipcovers is here. Check back here later to see my tips for making slipcovers.
Normally my family doesn’t fully appreciate my make-overs, in fact while I was hard at work, bent over my sewing machine I could hear my daughter ask Mr. CH in the other room, why mom was redoing the sofa. She used that disgusted Disney show (I’m more important than you are) tone of voice that sounds like nails on a chalkboard to moms. The good news is that I have been vaccinated from teenage scorn. When she says something like that, it doesn’t hurt my feelings, nor cause me to doubt what I am doing. I am simply amused. When she yells that I have ruined her life, that’s when I usually say, “Ah yes, then my work here is done.”
So imagine my surprise when my family started raving about the new slipcovers. It’s not because of how they look, oh no, my friend. It’s because it turns out that linen is much cooler to the touch than corduroy. I could have just draped a sheet on top of the sofa, and had the same reaction.
My daughter has decided that this is THE place to study instead of cloistered up in that inner sanctum that I dare not enter, AKA her room. In fact, I snapped a photo of her studying the day after I finished the slipcovers.
oh, its all gorgeous!!!
Oh, Anita, they are fabulous and thr room looks great. I do love red, too, but this looks so good. I wish I could sew like you. What a gift.
Anita,
You are the bona-fide Queen of Slipcovers! What a beautiful transformation!
PS I love your comeback for teens. Must add that to my file.:)
Anita,
I absolutely love it! I’m in the same process of redecorating from yellows and reds to more cool and natural, I also have some slip covering to do and your post has really helped me see that it will be worth it! And I have a house full of all men who don’t get it either! Can’t wait to read the slip covering details!
Have a blessed weekend,
Doreen
It’s all amazing, and so profesional-looking, too! Good choice on the grain sacks (I so love them). I am trying like you, slowly but surely, to change our darkish maroons and greens into something white-ish. Mr. CBD even pulled over for an estate sale today and I scored a white chippy shabby vintage coffee table for $35! No matter that I had no idea where I was going to put it:) Great job, you must be over the moon with it!
Wow Anita, what a great transformation on all of your rooms. You are so gifted to be able to sew like that. I am a follower and you have always been on my blog list, glad you are still blogging.
Thanks for sharing,
Chrissy
I am amazed by your sewing ability. I am a straight line sewer ( is that even a word?) Presently working on drapes for the living and dining room…. straight lines 🙂
Funny, bot only do we share an appreciation for dishes ( ahem), flatware and glasses… we are both changing from a red and gold scheme to a calmer, creamier, fresher palate. Luv looking at your before and afters.. they motivate me to get going with mine.
Cheers, Gee
Oh, it’s beautiful! I love the color and the fabric: linen is my favorite! 🙂
this is all stunning anita! you did an absolutely fabulous job…so professional. i’ll bet in a few years when your daughter has her own place she’ll want you to do some sewing for her home!
i wish i had 1/2 your talent and energy to attempt something like this.
You did a fantastic job!! I can’t sew a thing, that is one thing I wish I could but can’t. I should’ve let my mother teach when I had the chance.
Everything really does look fantastic and what talent. I don’t know what I love most, the chair, couch or ottoman.
Cynthia
Anita I am so jealous of all of you out here that can sew so beautifully like this, wish I could! I love red but this room looks beautiful with it’s new look!! Beautiful job on the slips!
The changes are great! I like the red color , but the tranquility and feeling of soft colors are lovely !!
Your energy is boundless !
Olympia
Just beautiful Anita, you are so talented! I love the grainsacks too!
Wow! Incredible. I have a set of wing chairs that I have been slipcovering for the past four months. How do you do it so fast! What kind of fabric do you use and where do you get it. Is it a dropcloth? Love your house. Beautiful.
amyjones194(at)gmail(dot)com
FA,FA,FABULOUS!!!!
You totally transformed the entire room!!
♥Linsey
Anita,
I adore the transformation taking place throughout your lovely home!!! Light, bright, airy …exquisite!!! You did an amazing job!!! Thanks for sharing! I’ll be back to see the tutorial…but remember, I HATE to sew! Just saying!!!
fondly,
Pat
I love what you’ve done! And what’s so great is that you can change the slipcovers whenever you want.
Anita, your new looks are fabulous! Love the linen and the look in both your bedroom and the living room.
You already know what I think…just amazing!!
You did a super job.I can’t imagine ever trying a project that big.
The slips are beautiful and so well done. That is how our 15 year old son studies too 😉
I love the new look. I too have touches of red in my home but I’m slowly moving in a different direction. Your sewing is terrific. Wish I could sew.
So gorgeous!
Anita…… you are the Italian Linen Queen. You ruled that stuff, it looks great.
~Bliss~
Anita, I am cracking up reading the part about your daughter. I just love how the slipcovers turned out. You are so talented. I can’t wait to hear all the details. How long did it take you to make them, and I am assuming this wasn’t your first go around making slipcovers. I want you to come to my house and make me some. Lovely job and it sure added a clean fresh look to the room:)
Anita, I’m so impressed with all the work you’ve done. You’ve been busy!!! And it all looks amazing. LOVE the new slipcovers. I’ve been wanting to make slipcovers for my living room but I don’t know when it will happen. You’ve definitely inspired me. Wonderful job, my friend!
Wow, Anita, such an impressive amount of work (and all that piping!)! The slipcovers are gorgeous and what a lovely transformation for the room. I’m impressed with all of your makeover rooms! Simply fabulous! You rock, my friend!
Your slipcovers are just beautiful. I love the little straps, something I have admired but not tried yet. My husband did not always appreciate my affinity for white, until he saw the before and after of the slipcovers when I wash them. How many people with three small children can throw all their furniture in the wash and have them clean again. He is now a believer.
Thank you Anita, for stopping by my blog and giving me your input on my dicussion to paint my cabinets or not. This may be a dumb question, but is there a “good” recipe for homemade chalk paint? I notice while I was on leave from blogging, chalk paint has taken off like fire.
Have you painted your kitchen cabinets?
Thanks again, please come back.
Chrissy
http://rosesrhubarbandpearls.blogspot.com
Oh my goodness, Anita, your slipcovers have completely transformed this room and it is just GORGEOUS!! I love the linen and the grain sacks. You have such talent! I cannot imagine sewing like you.
Wow! Either way the rooms are all so beautiful!
Love the lighter, brighter look of all your rooms–and I’m a huge fan of red! Those ties on your slipcovers are such a beautiful detail.
AMAZING! Help me find my words, here! I love the new soft look! Your work is stunning! Beautifully detailed and so well fitting! I would LOVE to have your sewing talent!!! Anita, all the changes you have made are just perfection!!!
What a darling one all camped-out on the beautifully covered sofa! Just goes to show you that she loves it too!
forever ahhh, nevermind! I miss read what you said. My fault, youre wanting those status messages synced up with your phones contacts so it displays it. Gotcha, yeah that would be cool, but I dont mind much to not have that (yet).
So lovely! The whole house just looks freash and light and airy now. I’m inspired to cover my big sectional…just as soon as I find a killer deal on some fabric. Thanks so much for linking up at Etcetorize this week!
Oh, Anita! They are just gorgeous! You did a fabulous job! The HOURS that must have taken…but it all paid off! Lovely! Happy week!…hugs…Debbie
I am seriously in love with what you have accomplished in your house. I have started changing to neutrals, but you inspire me to go all the way. Now, if I just knew how to sew slipcovers!
Distressed Donna Down Home
Wow Anita this is fabulous!!! I wish I could sew like that. True inspiration!
What beautiful slipcovers! You do such fantastic work, sure wish I could!!! Enjoy your new serene space! p.s. those teenagers who hate us today, grow up very quickly and love and need us very soon again :-))
Anita, you did a fantastic job! I wonder if I’ll ever have the courage to take on a task that large, but I’m looking forward to your tutorials.
Your changes are wonderful!
Wow! What an amazing job you did – the linen and grainsacks are pure perfection. Wish I could sit on those!!
OK…you have got my nomination for a prime spot in the Sewer’s Hall of Fame. What an incredible transformation. How happy were you when it was finished?!!! I love the grain sacks of course but the ruffles are a close second. I may just have to make a slipcover for my ottoman and put a ruffle on it. :o) Thank you so much for sharing all of this. I’m off to pin most if it.
WOW!!! What can I say that hasnt already been said here,except I have slipcover envy now!!! lol Great job:)
Just beautiful! Your sewing skills are amazing! Slipcovering my furniture has been on my list for a while now, but I keep putting it off. Your newly transformed rooms have inspired me to get the job done! Thanks!
I love it all! You did an amazing job. I’d love my house to look like this too. But with 2 toddlers it is sadly not practical. Maybe when they are older. 🙂 x J
It is gorgeous- the whole house! I love the slipcovers. sarah
Gosh, these look so great. Such a beautiful job. I never ever thought I’d get tired of my pink sofa but now I’m wanting to make slip covers for her.
You did an incredible job, Anita … your slip covers are amazing … I envy your skills! Your lighter and brighter color palette throughout your beautiful home is stunning!
I absolutely LOVE this new covers, you are very talented! I just recently made new covers for my red couch pillow. I too wanted a softer look. Would you mind if I shared this project on my B&A Friday feature?
You did a fabulous job!
Stopping back by, Anita, to say thank you for sharing your fabulous makeover at Potpourri Friday!
Absolutely gorgeous, Anita! You are quite the seamstress and your home looks beautiful! I’ll be featuring you this week at Knick of Time Tuesday and have a new “I Was Featured” button waiting for you!
Blessings,
~Angie
Wow! Beautiful! I just finished my first slipcover and I was excited but yours are really beautiful. I love the shape of your furniture as well. All those curves couldn’t have been easy to cover. I will write for tips for my next project. Please check out my slipcover if you have a min. Linda
Those slip covers are amazing! I’ve never seen them with the arms and back detail showing. I just love all the lightening up you have done to your home!! Everything is just beautiful!
Lynn
Just amazing!!!! Hats off to you!!! the slip covers are so gorgeous!!! I wish I could sew like you!!!
Dang, girl! That’s what I call a transformation! And a great looking one at that! So, so impressed by the work of your hands! xo!
It all looks so gorgeous! Thank you for sharing. I want you to come over and do my living room now!
You are featured today, Anita!
Anita, I loved seeing all of your before and after pics of the transformation of your home. Can I just say one word-AMAZING!
Anita, Your home is gorgeous and the slip covers are fabulous! I loved seeing the before and after pictures.
Hi Anita,
I absolutely love your slipcovers! I have a roll of 35 meters of linen that I want to slipcover my family room furniture with. I have had the roll for a year now. I am really going to read your posts on how you did this and get brave enough to just do it. I love the pillows from the grain sacks.
I would do anything to be able to do this! You need to go into business -I can be your first customer! WOW!!!
I have almost the identical “before” living room and desperately want your new look 🙂
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